All stories by Ronald Blum on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Met cuts season to 18 operas by Ronald Blum

The financially challenged Metropolitan Opera is cutting its schedule to 18 productions next season, matching the pandemic-curtailed 2019-20 season for the fewest since 14 in strike-shortene…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:28PM
Monday, September 24, 2018

Hartford Stage's Darko Tresnjak Making Met Opera Debut With 'Samson Et Dalila' by Ronald Blum

Darko Tresnjak thought back to November 2016, when he headed to the acclaimed modernist home designed by Charles Gwathmey in Manchester that he had purchased a year earlier with his husband.…

SOURCE: Hartford Courant at 01:20PM
Monday, February 19, 2018

Key mix-up at Met leaves tenor, conductor scrambling by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Fabiano was singing at the Metropolitan Opera when a key mix-up occurred....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 05:21PM
Friday, December 22, 2017

Replacing conductors creates musical podiums by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- When conductor replacements are needed, opera companies and orchestras scramble in a game of musical podiums, with one change causing a cascade....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 07:19PM
Friday, May 6, 2016

Opera version of 'The Shining' opens Saturday in Minnesota by Ronald Blum

Mark Campbell wants people to issue warnings when they leave his operatic adaptation of "The Shining."...

SOURCE: Associated Press at 11:58AM

Carnegie Hall celebrates 125 years and counting by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- James Taylor thought back four decades to his Carnegie Hall debut and said it was "the sort of cultural sign" that he had made it to a certain level…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 11:58AM
Saturday, April 23, 2016

Italian tenor makes Met Opera debut with 5 minutes notice by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- Francesco Anile got to make his Metropolitan Opera debut in a T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. With 5 minutes notice....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 10:04PM
Thursday, April 14, 2016

James Levine to retire as Met music director after 40 years by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- James Levine will retire as the Metropolitan Opera's music director at the end of this season because of Parkinson's disease, ending a 40-year run t…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 09:41PM
Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Stephen Sondheim reimagined for piano by 37 composers by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stephen Sondheim sounded enchanted....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 10:50AM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Before Dying, Opera's Romeo and Juliette Get Sick by Ronald Blum

Before dying on stage, the lead singers in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette" get sick. Really. In startling frequency.

SOURCE: Backstage at 05:58PM
Sunday, April 5, 2015

With Placido Domingo ill, Luca Salsi sings Met doubleheader by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- Luca Salsi was at the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street, taking a walk with his wife, when he got a call from Alvaro Domingo, son of the famous singer....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 03:37PM
Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Met Opera commissions Muhly to compose `Marnie' for 2019-20 by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Metropolitan Opera has commissioned Nico Muhly to compose "Marnie" for its 2019-20 season, based on Winston Graham's 1961 novel that was adapted into an Alfred Hitch…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 01:20PM
Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Eric Idle brings `Not the Messiah' to Carnegie Hall by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- And now for something completely different....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 03:14PM
Saturday, April 5, 2014

Soprano debuts in 2 Met Opera roles within day by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- Kristine Opolais got to bed at 5 a.m. Saturday after singing her first "Madama Butterfly'" at the Metropolitan Opera and going out for dinner....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 07:48PM
Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Levine to resume full Met schedule next season by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- James Levine will resume a full schedule of six productions at the Metropolitan Opera next season, conducting on opening night for the first time since 2010 following hi…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:14PM
Friday, March 15, 2013

Review: Andre Previn's `Streetcar' makes it to NYC by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- Andre Previn's opera version of "A Streetcar Named Desire" finally made it to New York - 15 years after its world premiere....

SOURCE: Associated Press at 02:44PM
Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Mayer's `Rigoletto,' set in Vegas, opens at Met by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- For all the bright lights and razzle-dazzle of the Las Vegas locale, the most illuminating stretches in Michael Mayer's showy new production of "Rigoletto" at the Metrop…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 01:08PM
Sunday, September 30, 2012

`Carmen' returns to Met Opera in mixed revival by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Metropolitan Opera's revival of its 2 1/2-year-old production of Bizet's "Carmen" was memorable for the debut of conductor Michele Mariotti and for performances by A…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 11:58AM
Thursday, April 19, 2012

New York City Opera Returns to City Center in 2013 by Ronald Blum

New York City Opera will return to its roots at New York City Center in March after a 48-year absence.

SOURCE: Backstage at 11:29AM
Thursday, February 23, 2012

Met abandons Bondy `Rigoletto' for Vegas version by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Metropolitan Opera has abandoned a new production of Verdi's "Rigoletto" by director Luc Bondy, whose grim version of Puccini's "Tosca" provoked intense booing when …

SOURCE: Associated Press at 06:39PM
Thursday, December 1, 2011

Strikes, call for boycott threatened at NYC Opera by Ronald Blum

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City Opera has declared an impasse in contract negotiations with unions for its musicians and singers and is threatening to present its abbreviated season witho…

SOURCE: Associated Press at 03:20PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards